Another bonus for Microsoft is that there may soon be one less database vendor for it to compete with, since MySQL and Oracle's database will be under one roof. It is unclear whether Oracle will continue to develop and market MySQL alongside its proprietary database, and some think it will allow MySQL to languish. That could give Microsoft's SQL Server more opportunities among Web database users, where MySQL currently dominates.

"I don't think that MySQL is going to thrive now that it is part of Oracle," said Matt Rosoff, an analyst with Directions on Microsoft. "That's kind of a plus for Microsoft."